Random Sketches

I'll admit it... I was snooping... through my own drawer. But it's as though it was someone else considering I havent looked through that drawer in aagesss. Anyways, I was fortunate enough to find a blue piece of paper that had a document discussing the Articles of Confederation. I just wanted to share this because the Articles of Confederation were the U.S.'s first constitution among the thirteen colonies...

Okay I'm just kidding, I could care less about the stupid articles...they didn't even work out in the end! But I do want to share the blue piece of paper because on the other side were a bunch of random and incomplete sketches. I wanted to show you guys what it means to doodle and practice art without having to be all professional about it.

You see, ever since I stopped taking art lessons in the eighth grade, I've had a desire to do portraiture, but I stink at it! So, whenever I have a lot of homework...or in this case, a U.S. History research paper to do, I just sketch some stuff with what I've got. Here are two of the things on this page.

 
Okay, I swear the paper is really really blue. It's like a bright baby blue or something. I guess the camera just wanted to trick you guys and make me look like a liar...

Secrets of a Sphere...FINALLY!

I'm sure a handful of you didn't understand how "Secrets of a Sphere" had any relevance to art, but when I created the title, the following post was what went through my head. SEE I'M ALWAYS 10 STEPS AHEAD!...not really, I just didn't feel like drawing a sphere before...

Anyways, here is a step-by-step on how to draw one of the simplest, yet most important objects. I believe that once you learn how to draw a sphere, you can conquer ANYTHING. Make this, and you can call yourself an artist. WOOOO!

1. Step One: Trace a cup. Yes, it's already that simple. And since I'm going to be shading, I identified a light source. So pick anywhere!

 2. Then, I made a value scale (those random boxes on the bottom right). You don't have to, but it looks really pro...and it just might help you separate your darks and lights!

And, I found the center of my sphere and "blocked out" (TERMINOLOGY--DO YOU REMEMBER IT?) my values.

3. Start coloring! I shaded the whole thing lightly. And, I made neat lines so I could see the curves of the sphere to help me out later! THERE I AM THINKING AHEAD AGAIN!

4. But, I decided that neatness is for losers, so I brought out my personality in the lines: SLOPPINESS. Just go over the 'assigned sections' again and again till you get the darkness you need to. DO WHAT FEELS RIGHT.


5. Now that people can kind of (maybe not actually) tell that I'm drawing a sphere, I decided to draw a shadow. If you're looking at a real ball, then copy where the shadow goes, but if not, just do what looks logical.

6. I decided to smoothen out my ball because I wanted to make my shadow like all funky, instead. So Here's what I did.
OH WAIT, IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL NOTE: All spheres, in their darkest corner, have what's called a reflection. See the white between the shadow and dark side?--It actually exists. Just look closely this time with an artist mindset!... I just blew your freakin mind didn't I.


7. WOOO WE'RE DONE!
IT WASN'T SO BAD RIGHT? Anyways, since I just had to go about this 100%,  I created a table or something for it to rest on, and I did this thing in the back just to contrast the ball from the wall (RHYMEZ ARE MY FORTE)

By the way, you can't really tell, but I sort of outlined my sphere, but not enough for it to look like a cartoon. Do it. Trust me. 

Oh, and I smoothened out my shadow because my dad walked in while I was working and said it looked stupid...SO TADA. 

Questions? Let me know!

ART...since I'm so deep and insightful.

That ultimate brush stroke, a flawless contour line, the perfect combination of colors. As my paintbrush touches the canvas, I fall into a fantasy world where 'impossible' does not exist. When my subject consumes my attention, it pervades my subconscious and evolves over time through meticulous introspection. The metamorphosis reaches its asymptote and then materializes onto paper. Finally, it is time to rinse out the paintbrushes and put away the paints. However, like a roller coaster that completes its run but then surprises it victims with one more hill to ride, I re-open my kit and add the finishing touches, one last time. Art helps me capture what lies beneath the surface, and it has painted the person I am today: attentive and passionate.

60 Reasons to Draw

1.    You can express yourself in a way that words cannot.

2.    You get to call yourself an ‘artist.’

3.    You can brag about yet another talent that you have.

4.    You can make your enemies jealous.

5.    If you break your camera, you have another way to document memories.

6.    If you lose your camera, you have another way to document memories.

7.    It’s a better way to waste time than watching TV.

8.    It’s a better way to waste time than surfing Facebook.

9.    It’s a better way to waste time than playing video games.

10. You can make your mother proud.

11. You can make your father proud.

12. You can make your grandmother proud.

13. You can make your grandfather proud.

14. You can make your aunt proud.

15. You can make your uncle proud.

16. You can make your cousins proud.

17. You can stop calling yourself talentless.

18. You can become the next Picasso.

19. You can procrastinate from doing homework, and have something to show for it.

20. You can develop the creative part of your brain, which will serve immensely useful in the future.

21. You can create a portfolio of works, which will serve immensely useful in the future.

22. You can make money teaching kids art.

23. You can make money teaching adults art.

24. You can make money selling your art.

25. You can make your house beautiful with your artwork.

26. You can make someone else’s house beautiful with your artwork.

27. You can finally doodle the Mona Lisa in school, while the loser next to you is still at Stage One drawing those unsatisfyingly unsymmetrical stars.

28. You will develop a greater appreciation for Michelangelo.

29. You will develop a greater appreciation for Da Vinci.

30. You will develop a greater appreciation for Monet.

31. You will develop a greater appreciation for Picasso.

32. You will develop a greater appreciation for Rembrandt.

33. You will develop a greater appreciation for Dali.

34. You will develop a greater appreciation for Cezanne.

35. You will develop a greater appreciation for Matisse.

36. You can cross another item off of your checklist of “Things to Do Before I Die”

37. You can inspire people with your art.

38. You can enjoy someone’s reaction of what you drew.

39. You can put it on your resume.

40. You can use a knife for good instead of evil: sharpening pencils.

41. It’s fun.

42. It’s very serene.

43. It is therapeutic.

44. It’ exciting.

45. You can shift your anger from other people to the page.

46. You can draw the person you hate being eaten by a lion.

47. You can draw the person you hate being eaten by a tiger.

48. You can draw the person you hate being eaten by a bear.

49. You can draw the person you hate being eaten by a cheetah.

50. You can draw the person you hate being eaten by a hyena.

51. You can draw the person you hate being eaten by an alligator.

52. You can draw the person you hate being eaten by a crocodile.

53. You can draw the person you hate being eaten by a camel.

54. You can draw the person you hate being eaten by Godzilla.

55. You can draw the person you hate being eaten by an alien.

56. You can draw Justin Bieber being eaten by any one of those things above.

57. You can draw the person you hate being eaten by another person you hate.

58. You get to feel like you are doing something worthwhile.

59. You get to see the transformation of a blank paper that turns into a beautiful 3 Dimensional object.

60. You get to take full credit for a piece that someone else admires.

Rookie Mistakes

NUMBER ONE: Ambition

Seriously, what’s with all of you ambitious people? It’s like your purpose in life is to succeed… optimists…

So they're not dancing on an elephant-shaped table, and they're
playing a clarinet, not a flute, but this will suffice. 

But actually, it is ambition that can be the dagger (WOOOO METAPHORS ARE MY THING). When you look up a picture of how somebody drew a monkey playing the flute, dancing on a table that is shaped like an elephant, PLEASE DO NOT TRY IT. Seriously, you’re going to end up with your stupid amoeba, and come on, how many of those do you really want in your portfolio?

Here, draw something like this to start you off. 

You need to start simple. I suggest you just draw simple things around your room so you can practice your techniques. They’re not pieces to sell; they’re to practice! Start drawing from a picture because drawing from life involves a lot of skills and practice.

I was just kidding about ambition being a bad thing…well not really, but just if you’re going to be ambitious, know what’s possible and what’s now (JUST FOR RIGHT NOW!) I just don’t want you to get discouraged because even though I don’t who you are, I still love you. <3

NUMBER TWO: Drawing to Draw

Who draws to draw… let’s be a little more realistic now, shall we? If you’re here so you can draw, great, but don’t start drawing to draw, PLEASE.

I think I need to clarify what I’m saying because sometimes my thoughts like the one above, aren’t exactly concrete yet.

What I mean is, if you’re sitting in your room stressed out of your mind because you have an AP US History research paper due tomorrow along with two AP Calc and AP Physics tests and a bunch of other things, you don’t have to be like “oh wait, I need to practice my drawing because I am a rookie, and practice makes perfect.” This is actually such a common thing where people will draw something because they think they have to. Honestly, you don’t have to have this mentality where you draw to practice now, and once you become good at it, you can then learn how to enjoy it.

Allow me to inspire you:
Claude Monet's The Saint-Lazare Train Station

If you don’t feel like drawing, DON’T. Because nothing tires or bores someone more than doing something they don’t want to do. I only draw when I’ m inspired, for example. I’ll come home with nothing to do, watch some TV, then go on Facebook (which is actually the most boring thing ever), and I’ll just be so bored. Then, I’ll start searching different art works…young artists, famous artists, etc. Or, I’ll go around my house and see an object and automatically ‘arrange it’ in my head (remember “arranging it”?—one of the steps on how to draw in my blog titled “A BUNCH OF STEPS TO BE AMAZING.” Suddenly, I am inspired, and I draw (or paint, but we’re not there yet.)

MORE INSPIRATION:
Salvador Dali's Soft Watch at Moment of First Explosion
(NOTE: He was a surrealist painter, so he messed with the
laws of nature)

So to refine my previous ambiguous and just plain confusing statement: don’t draw to draw, draw to enjoy. (THIS BLOG MAKES ME SO PROFOUND—I LOVE IT.)

Even undiscovered artists can inspire.
And even objects as simple as an apple can be beautiful.
NOTE: See how this artist took advantage of his space.
Lack of graphite can enhance, too.

NUMBER THREE: The Proper Way

So you want to draw a pair of sunglasses. Okay, go find a table near a window, or where you can access bright light. Get your set of art supplies:

1. pencils
2. eraser
3. ruler

4. horsehair dusting brush(TRUST me, it’s useful. I have one. It’s meant to swipe away eraser shavings without smudging your artwork)

5. a razor knife (to sharpen my pencils because I’m too cool for a mechanical sharpener)  Learn the technique here!

6. blending tools

7. easel maybe?

8. Rag (which is where you put all of your pencils, erasers, brush, blending tools, etc., and what you clean your dirty eraser and blending tools with)

So that’s about right… right?

..............WRONG! WRONGWRONGWRONGWRONG

If you think you need to go around and set all of this up every time you want to work on your drawing, THINK AGAIN. Seriously, every art class will tell you, that before you start to draw, your station needs to be ready with all of these tools. I’ll admit it. I own all of these things, and they all come in handy. When I used to go to art lessons, I did the whole shebang.

BUT, what I failed to realize was that when I stopped my lessons, and I would get inspired to draw something, my lazy butt didn’t want to go searching for all of these things. It really put me off. So, I developed a new method… just go get a pencil, eraser and a piece of paper.

It's like I've been saying: you don't need to draw the Mona Lisa.
An inspirational yet undiscovered artist--notice the style? It's the same guy who drew that apple.
Okay, well at least notice the signature on the bottom right!!

If you’re not the lazy type, please do go and set all of this up because it does make your life a lot easier. And you feel like such a pro when you sharpen your pencil with that knife even though there’s a mechanical sharpener three feet away. And if you are planning on a masterpiece (which is probably not what a rookie should be thinking—and if you are, review “NUMBER ONE” again), then you probably should at least get your set of art pencils at the very least.

YAYYYY THESE ARE MY TOP THREE ROOKIE MISTAKES… created from personal experience… and if you are someone who never ever did any of these things…props to you… don’t brag about it. Now go draw that flute-playing monkey.